Monday 27 May 2013

Meet Africa's Biggie Housemates For The Chase

KENYA

Annabel
Age: 24

Nairobi-born student and fashion designer Annabel says she doesn’t have any children – but considers her pets to be her babies. She enjoys reading philosophical literature. Her favourite foods include Ethiopian, Nigerian, Oriental and Italian and she lists her favourite TV show as Big Brother.

Annabel’s favourite place in Kenya is Mombasa, because she loves the water and says it’s the only place she finds peace and tranquillity. Outside of Kenya, she loves Greece or Rome because of the way they have preserved the artefacts and culture through the generations. “I love art and I’d kill to live there!” she says.

She has 3 siblings – all brothers, and all older - and lists her late father as her role model, because he taught her the art of tolerance and hard work.

Annabel says she loves attention and is looking forward to having Africa’s eyes on her 24/7. “It makes me feel like the princess I’ve always been,” she says. Her family is happy she’s going to be on the show and she says they can’t wait to tell everyone they’re related to her.

Huddah
Age: 21

Huddah is a model with a Diploma in Programming. She loves Chinese food, ugali and fish. Her favourite books are Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson and A Man of the People by Chinua Achebe and she enjoys watching The Oprah Winfrey Show and America’s Next Top Model. Her favourite musicians are Rihanna and Prezzo and her favourite actress is Angelina Jolie, “because she is beautiful, hardworking, a great actress and very charitable”.

Huddah’s favourite place in Kenya is Mombasa, and she says the best thing about Africa is the diversified cultures and natural resources. Her favourite place outside Kenya is Miami, because it’s a beautiful place and she loves tropical weather.

Her role model is Marilyn Monroe, because “she was intelligent, a go-getter, a sexy woman with a charming smile and also very popular”. She says God is the major influence in her life, because he has always been there for her and always answers her prayers. She says the achievement she’s most proud of is having worked hard to create her brand, which has helped her become known in the modelling industry.

Huddah entered Big Brother because she believes it’s a once in a lifetime experience and she felt she really needed to be part of it. “Plus it has brought a lot of opportunities in life for a lot of people,” she says. She says having Africa’s eyes on her 24/7 will make her feel like a star, because she loves the attention. She says that if she wins the 300 000 USD, she’ll double the money, expand her brand and build a business empire.


TANZANIA

Feza
Age: 25

Recording artist Feza is from Arusha and has a certificate in IT. A fan of french fries and Ugali na Maziwa, she likes watching ArrowDoctors and Touch and listening to the music of Toni Braxton, Rihanna, Lauren Hill, Tiwa Savage and 2Face. Her favourite films include Mission Impossible and The Italian Job.

She loves Big Brother and says that people always do well after appearing on the show, something she feels is vital for her career. Her favourite former housemates are Mwisho, Cherise, Prezzo and Kevin and she says that if she wins the grand prize, she’ll invest some, take her son to Disneyland and possibly buy a house.

Feza describes herself as “fun, bubbly, loyal, kind and strong” and thinks her best trait is her humility. She enjoys people who are honest, caring and fun, but dislikes those who are liars. She promises viewers “a lot of dance, a bit of noise and lots of laughs too”. She’s hoping to get exposure and growth from her time in the house.

Her mom is her role model, whom she cites as “the strongest, most beautiful and humble person I know”. Her mom raised 4 children on her own and Feza says they always had the best “because of her love, strength and determination”. She has an older brother and sister, and one younger brother.

Nando
Age: 22

Student Nando says he has never watched Big Brother before and says it feels “normal” that the continent will be watching him 24/7. His friends encouraged him to enter and he says that if he wins the grand prize, he’ll “build an empire”.

Aside from the cash, Nando says he wouldn’t mind picking up a few endorsements on the back of his appearance on the show.

Describing himself as “young, ambitious, fun and loving”, Nando says he’s never thought about his best quality, but likes people with good personalities. His favourite place in Tanzania is Arusha, and globally, Brazil, because he loves football.

Nando says he eats everything, likes good music and his favourite TV show is 1000 Ways To Die. His favourite actors are Scarlett Johansson and Martin Lawrence.

UGANDA

Denzel
Age: 29

Denzel is a radio and TV show host from Kampala. Asked to describe himself in 5 words, he says “I am very eccentric”. He says his best quality is his optimism and he likes a great sense of style and humour, and open-mindedness in others. He dislikes negative people and smelly feet.

He entered Big Brother for the money, fame and adventure and ‘could care less’ that Africa will be watching him so closely. “People are always watching me, by virtue of my job,” he says. “In entertainment, you forfeit your right to privacy”. If he wins, he’ll “party!”.

Denzel lists EL James’ 50 Shades of Grey and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho as his favourite books. His favourite TV shows are 106 & ParkWorld’s Dumbest People and E!News, while his favourite silver screen films are Pulp FictionBruno and Pirates of the Caribbean. He enjoys the music of Chris Brown, Maurice Kirya, Avril Lavigne, DJ Cleo, Drake, Coldplay and Rick Ross and lists his favourite actors as Sasha Baron Cohen and Johnny Depp.

He lists himself as his role model, because of what he has achieved despite what he has gone through. He is the youngest of 4 children and says his proudest achievement is that he makes the world’s best-tasting noodles.

LK4
Age: 28

Towering over the rest of the housemates at 6 feet 5 inches, professional basketball player LK4, is from Kampala. Outside of his achievements on the basketball court, LK4 also has a CPA and a Degree in Marketing. He likes chicken tetrazzini, rice, beans, the music of Bob Marley, Ruyonga, the Dave Matthews Band, Liquideep and Sade.

LK4 was inspired to enter Big Brother by his teammates and friends and says he is excited to have Africa watching him. His favourite former housemate is Prezzo and he says that viewers can expect him to make all the ladies fall in love with him, make viewers laugh. If he wins the grand prize, he’ll start building his basketball academy.

He describes himself as “compassionate, sexy, conscious, comical and athletic” and his favourite personal quality is his confidence, saying that he’s “the direct reflection of God’s creation”. He likes people who are loyal, humble, confident, honest and intelligent, but dislikes “disloyal, jealous, envious individuals”.

LK4’s role model is Kobe Bryant, because “regardless of what he went through, he still won NBA championships and takes care of his family”. He cites Louis Farrakhan as a major influence on his life, saying that “his words have inspired me to be a better brother, friend and man”. His proudest achievements so far are winning the national championship with his team in 2010 and representing his country in Olympic Qualifiers.

ANGOLA

Biguesas
Age: 29

Bank worker and student Biguesas from Luanda, is single, and doesn’t have any children. He describes himself as “handsome, intelligent, extroverted, always playing and talkative”. He values sincerity in others and says that those close to him at home are very excited to see him on the show.

If he wins the grand prize, he’ll share some of the money with his family, donate some, pay for university and buy a house. He’s also excited by the prospect of fame, as he’s always wanted to be a TV presenter.

He says his favourite actors are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and his favourite films are 8 Mile and Salt. He likes watching Mixed Martial Arts and World Wrestling Entertainment on TV and his favourite foods are ‘pap’, hamburgers and fries. Biguesas says the best thing about Africa is the fauna & flora and that his favourite place outside of Angola is Pretoria in South Africa, where he spent 3 years at high school.

Biguesas says he is proud to be finishing University soon, a first within his family of 9 siblings.

Neyll
Age: 32

Neyll is currently studying at university, is single and works as an IT Productivity coach. He has a daughter and is from Luanda. He describes himself as “fun, entertaining, unforgettable, intense and unique”.

His favourite food is prawn cocktail, he loves watching Big Brother and The Voice and enjoys the music of Craig David and Michael Jackson. His favourite actor is Tom Cruise, because he identifies with him. No surprise then, that one of his favourite movies is Mission Impossible!

His favourite place in Angola is Mussulo Island because it’s a nice place to have fun and be with family and friends. Neyll says the best thing about Africa is its strong culture that can’t be compared to any other. His role model is his father because he was the person who inspired him and taught him to be a man.

Neyll entered Big Brother to be on TV. He loves the Live Show and says he knows how to play the game. He also thinks it’ll be a great opportunity to meet new people and share ideas and cultures. He says viewers can expect surprises from him and get the chance to see the real Neyll. If he wins the big prize, he’ll give some money to charity and help his family.

BOTSWANA

ONeal
Age: 33

ONeal is a radio personality and TV host. He enjoys listening to R.Kelly and Ryan Leslie, likes watching the news and his favourite foods are morogo and meat. He describes himself as “fun, imaginative, entertaining, shocking and unforgettable”.

ONeal says his favourite place in Botswana is his house – in particular his couch – and says that the best thing about Africa is its people’s emotional strength.

He was inspired to enter Big Brother because of “the lack of me in that house” and a need to increase his follower base outside his home country. ONeal has a younger brother and says it’ll be a privilege to have Africa’s eyes on him 24/7, but also acknowledges how tough it must be.

ONeal values consideration in others and thinks his best quality is his imagination. He dislikes dishonesty and declares himself an entertainer at heart. If he wins the grand prize, he’ll build his mom her dream house.

Motamma
Age: 26

Scientific researcher and student Motamma has a BSc in Agriculture and is currently studying further.

Her favourite foods include pasta dishes and sorghum cooked in milk, her favourite books are Secret of Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin and Letters to My Children by Jonathan Jansen. She loves Rihanna and her favourite TV shows include Teen Mothers, Big Brother, Idols and Tyra.

Motamma says her favourite place in Botswana is Maun. The best thing about Africa? The fact that it’s rich in resources. Her favourite place outside Botswana is Mauritius, because it appears peaceful and suitable for a romantic getaway.

She says it feels ‘great’ that Africa’s eyes will be on her 24/7. She hasn’t watched previous seasons of Big Brother, but her friends and colleagues always kept her up to date. She says her favourite former housemate is Keagan because he knew nothing about Big Brother, stuck to his character and won.

ETHIOPIA

Bimp
Age: 23

Bimp is from Addis Ababa and is armed with a Degree in Business Management. He loves fast food and watching TV shows like Family Guy, An Idiot Abroad, Scandal, Homeland and Game of Thrones. His favourite musicians include Tupac, Biggie, Big Pun, Eminem, Mos Def and Talib Kweli.

He says the best thing about Africa is the people, who he describes as “friendly, fun, welcoming and loving”. A middle child, Bimp has both an older and a younger brother.

Bimp entered Big Brother because of fellow Ethiopian Hanni’s experiences in the house. He hopes that Africa learns something from him by watching him 24/7. He wants to represent his country and continent well and do them proud.

He sees himself as “honest, loyal, dependable and responsible” and says his family are excited to see him on TV. If he wins the big prize, he’d like to open a club or bar in Addis Ababa and triple the money! He’d love to travel and start a TV series about his adventures. Bimp is looking forward to gaining and sharing experiences on Big Brother and is hoping that the experience will help him decide what he does and doesn’t want to do with his life.

Betty
Age: 26

Betty is a translator and teacher from Addis Ababa, with a BSc in Applied Biology. She says she is brave, confident, committed and able to make the right decisions at the right time. She likes punctual, reasonable, and confident people, but dislikes people with “big mouths”.

Her favourite food is pizza and favourite book, The Notebook. She enjoys watching Friend Zone and Disaster Date and her favourite movies are The Vow, The Notebook and Flight. She enjoys the music of Adele, Rihanna and Bruno Mars and her favourite actor is Denzel Washington, because “he can really act”.

She says the best thing about Africa is the people, because they have showed the world they can do anything. Her favourite spot in Ethiopia is Kuriftu Resort in Debrezeit, and her favourite place outside her home country is Hollywood, because she loves film and music “and that’s where the stars live!”.

Betty entered Big Brother because she has always wanted to be a part of it and is inspired by “every crazy thing in the show”. Her favourite former housemates are Prezzo and Hanni and she says that having Africa’s eyes glued to the show will make her feel “like a princess”. If she wins the grand prize, she’ll open a travel agency in Ethiopia.

GHANA

Selly
Age: 25

An actress with a certificate in Broadcasting and Journalism, Selly is from Tema in Accra. She entered Big Brother because of “the mouth-watering prize package” that she says would change her life, and also because she wants more drama in her life to “spice it up more”.

She enjoys watching Fashion Police, SpongeBob Squarepants and Keeping Up With The Kardashians and her favourite movies include Kill Bill and Charlie’s Angels. Selly’s favourite musicians are Bruno Mars, Praye, D’Banj, Samini, Rihanna and Sarkodie and one of her favourite actress is Angelina Jolie because she’s “strong and daring”.

Her role model is her mother, who is a very ambitious and strong-willed woman who has succeeded in everything she set her mind to. Her boyfriend has influenced her life because he is extremely optimistic about life and has taught her to believe in herself. Her proudest achievement to date is winning talent search ‘Miss Goldenwood’, which got her movie roles and made her popular.

Describing herself as “spontaneous, kind, sensitive, no-nonsense and adventurous”, Selly dislikes back-biting, fake people and sycophants. She says viewers can expect dancing, cooking and entertainment from her. If she wins the grand prize, she’ll further her education, buy her mom a car, throw a huge party, start her dream business, renovate her mother’s house and buy herself a car.

Elikem
Age: 24

Tailor and actor Elikem is single and hails from Accra. His favourite foods include unripe plantain and kontomire, his favourite book is Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and he enjoys the music of Bruno Mars.

On the silver screen, his favourite movies include Man on Fire and The Sound of Music. Denzel Washington and Samuel L Jackson are his favourite actors – the former because he’s bold, confident and a natural and the latter because “he has made the black man proud”.

His father played a big role in his life, because he came from a very poor background and hustled his way through school and returned to take care of his family. Elikem’s proudest achievement is completing his university degree after deferring a year and not wanting to return and finish.

Elikem entered Big Brother for three things: the money, the exposure and the game play. He says it’s great that Africa will be watching him 24/7 because he’ll get a chance to show the continent who he is and what he can do and promote himself as a tailor and actor. He has grand plans for the big prize: he’ll host a fashion fundraiser, open 3 retail stores in Accra – and 3 more abroad – and shoot a star-filled movie before putting what’s left into investments and bonds.

MALAWI

Fatima
Age: 30

TV presenter and MC Fatima is from Lilongwe. She enjoys seafood and her favourite book is Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and her favourite TV shows are Game of Thrones and Sex in the City. On the musical front, she enjoys K’Naan and Mos Def and her favourite movies include The Notebook, In Time, The Hobbit and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Fatima lists her father as her role model because he is her source of inspiration and the most honest, straightforward person she knows. The achievement she’s most proud of is giving birth to her daughter. “There is absolutely no feeling in the world that can top bringing another human into the world,” she says.

She describes herself as “unique, daring, nurturing, fun and loud” and says she makes friends very easily. Fatima is looking forward to the exposure offered by Big Brother and believes that appearing on the show will be an important stepping stone in her TV presenting career.

Natasha
Age: 26

Self-employed mom Natasha hails from Lilongwe. She entered Big Brother because she looks at it as being social, educational, entertaining and a platform for fame. Her favourite former housemate is Tatiana and says her family have been very supportive of her desire to be on the show.

She describes herself as “fun, adventurous, flirtatious, crazy and sweet” and says that the qualities she likes most in herself are her patience, calmness, jokes and tolerance. She values patience, tolerance and kindness in others, but despises control freaks, liars and unfaithfulness. Her role models are Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey, because both are natural-born heroes.

Fatima’s favourite foods include prawns and fried rice, her favourite book is The Devils Wears Prada and her favourite TV shows include Idols, X-Factor, America’s Got Talent, Ellen and Fear Factor. Her favourite musicians include Mampi, Zahara, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Kenny Rogers and her favourite actors are Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence.

Her favourite part of Malawi is Livingstonia Beach and she believes the best thing about Africa is its unity, peace and friendliness of its cultures. Her late father is her biggest life influence because he told her the truth about life – what to do and what not to do.

NAMIBIA

Maria
Age: 24

Radio presenter and model Maria is single, has a Public Relations Diploma and is from Ondangwa. She lists spaghetti and chicken wings as her favourite foods and 50 Shades of Grey as her favourite book – even though she’s still trying to finish it. Her favourite musician is Beyonce and one of her favourite movies, Mr & Mrs Smith, features her favourite actress, Angelina Jolie.

Maria entered Big Brother in the hope of getting exposure which would boost her broadcasting career. She promises viewers “a lot of blonde moments” and also says she’ll “be real”. If she wins the grand prize, she’ll buy a new car and pay off her house – and probably give the rest to charity.

She lists a friend that is currently battling cancer as her role model. She has 2 older sisters, two older brothers, and two younger twin brothers and says her grandfather has been the biggest influence over her life because of his wisdom and strength of character. The achievements she’s most proud of so far are having her own radio show and being chosen to host the Namibian Music Awards.

Maria says her favourite personal trait is her kind and compassionate heart and she values honesty and respect in others. She hates gossip-mongers and promises viewers: “I am the real deal”.

Dillish
Age: 22

Windhoek-born Dillish is a third year Psychology student with a fondness for seafood. Her favourite TV shows include Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Idols and her favourite films include The Stoning of Suriya M and For Coloured Girls. She enjoys the music of Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, DJ Zinhle and Busisiwe and her favourite actor is Kevin Hart because he is so funny and lifts her spirits whenever she’s down.

Describing herself as “caring, fun, troublesome, loving and adventurous”, Dillish says her best quality is the fact that she’s ‘very real and straightforward’. She values caring and considerate people and dislikes those who are selfish and lazy.

She entered Big Brother because she’s been a fan of the show for some time and promised herself that she would enter as soon as she was old enough. Dillish says it’s a bit scary to know that Africa will be watching her 24/7, and is also excited to share her private life and lifestyle with the continent.

Dillish says the best thing about Africa is the diverse cultures and our unity. Her favourite place in Namibia is Swakopmund and says that even though she hasn’t travelled much, a trip to Nigeria last year was “the best ever”. Her grandfather is her role model who raised her mom and his 5 grandchildren – including herself. “He is my hero,” she says.

NIGERIA

Melvin
Age: 27

Melvin is a model and actor from Delta State with a BSc in Chemistry. He likes spaghetti and his favourite books include The Dark, Iron Bender and Pelican Brief. His favourite TV shows include Monday Night Football and Happy Family. Melvin enjoys the music of Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and R.Kelly and lists his favourite actors as Christian Bale and Tom Cruise, because “they are awesome to watch”.

His favourite place in Nigeria is Lagos and he says the best things about the continent as a whole are the culture and people. Outside of Nigeria, he enjoys spending time in South Africa and the USA because “these are places where you can relax and relate to people conveniently”.

Melvin’s role model is his dad, who taught him never to settle for less. His dad lost his parents at an early age, but didn’t let that stop him becoming the man he is today. Melvin is one of four children – he has a twin sister and, remarkably, a younger brother and younger sister who are also twins.

His friends and family inspired him to enter Big Brother. He says he has always been a fan of the show and has previously come out tops in two other reality shows, he is hoping to use all his experience and charm to go all the way on Big Brother. If he wins the grand prize, he’ll invest it, but is also hoping make his country proud and use it as a platform to achieve other things in his career.

Beverly
Age: 21

MC and model Beverly is from Lagos. She describes herself as “smart, sexy, humble, loyal and crazy”. One of her favourite qualities is her sense of humour. In other people, she values “maintenance, consistency, cleanliness, truth and humility” and dislikes unkept promises, lies and pretence.

Beverley entered Big Brother because she believes that her every-day life is entertaining, even when she’s sad. She says that viewers can expect “a total packaged African young diva to command the right qualities and characteristics of a blunt, sexy go-getter”. Her mom is so proud of her entering Big Brother that she even drove her to the audition.

She says she doesn’t really have any role models, choosing rather to take unique attributes from different people. If she had to choose, she would name Tyra Banks, her mom and Kelly Rowland as role models. Asked who has influenced her life most, Beverley says “who I want to influence me all depends on the situation at hand”.

Her favourite film is Pretty Woman, starring one of her favourite actresses, Julia Roberts. Lion’s Heart and Eyewitness are her favourite books, and she enjoys watching CSI Miami, Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Big Brother Africa on TV. Her favourite musicians include John Legend, Kelly Rowland, Phenom and Rihanna. 

SIERRA LEONE

Bolt
Age: 27

Freetown-born Bolt is a businessman with a Diploma in Computer Science. He says he loves Africa because it’s natural, and says his favourite place outside of Sierra Leone is the USA, because “it is a land full of opportunities” and he has family there.

Bolt will enjoy having the continent’s eyes on him, saying that it will make him feel like he’s ruling the world. If he wins, he’ll invest the money, start a music label, and give his daughter a quality education.

Bolt sees himself as a leader and says he is also frank, transparent and a supporter. He enjoys people who are open-minded, friendly and spontaneous and dislikes pretence, being ignored, people who are full of fear, and taking advantage of people’s weakness to destroy them.

His role model is R.Kelly, because “he is a genius in music and is best at whatever he does”. With 4 brothers – one older and three younger – he says his mom has played a massive role in his life. “She has always been there to support me and give advice, even when I did something she warned me about,” he says.

Bassey
Age: 22

Student, actor and model Bassey is from Freetown, and is single. His favourite foods include rice and cassava leaves and pasta with tomato sauce. He enjoys book series like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games and his favourite TV shows include Revenge, Game of Thrones, The Vampire Diaries and True Blood. His favourite musicians include Rihanna, Beyonce, LMFAO and Justin Bieber and his favourite actors include Desmond Finney, Majid Michel, Tom Cruise and Halle Berry.

His favourite spot in Sierra Leone is Freetown, “especially the beach”, and he says the best thing about Africa is the different cultures and “unity among us”. He also cites America as his favourite place in the world, seeing it as “a land of opportunities”.

Bassey’s role model is Michael Jackson, “because of the way he handled his career”. His mom played a major role in his life because despite being a single mom, she took care of him and his siblings and was always there for them. His two proudest achievements are graduating from University – and becoming the first of his siblings to do so – and also being nominated in the Youth Excellence Awards.

He entered Big Brother for the fame and money, believing that “Biggie changes lives”. He says it’ll be “weird” having so many people watching his every move on TV and says that he will get used to it with time. If he wins, he’ll buy a house for his family, his dream car, invest in business and produce a movie.

SOUTH AFRICA
Angelo
Age: 36

Dance teacher Angelo Collins entered Big Brother because he realised that life is too short and “one shouldn’t limit the things you want to do”. The Capetonian is excited to have the continent’s eyes on him and sees it as an opportunity for Africa to see him and for him to share himself. If he wins the grand prize, he would start a small business, help an orphanage and help his mom and family with a better life.

Angelo describes himself as “tall, dark, adventurous and handsome” and attributes his confidence to being relaxed and comfortable in his own skin. He dislikes arrogant, self-centred and rude people, preferring people who are confident and know what they want in life. He says that viewers can expect “a lot of craziness” from him, believing he has a funny personality and will make people laugh.

He enjoys pasta, sushi and Thai dishes and lists his favourite books as The Alchemist and The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho. His favourite TV shows include Family Guy, Entourage and 30 Rock and his favourite films are The Notebook, Safe Haven and Get Rich or Die Trying. Angelo’s favourite musicians are Trey Songz, L’il Wayne, Maxwell and Miguel and he says that Denzel Washington is his favourite actor.

Angelo says his favourite spot in South Africa is a coastal town called Hermanus, where he likes to go whale watching. The best thing about Africa? The people, sunsets, mountains and how different, yet how similar cultural values are. Outside of his home country, he says he loves Mozambique, where he visited some amazing islands.

Koketso
Age: 26

Johannesburg-born Koketso is an entrepreneur, currently studying towards a Law degree. She says she enjoys eating “most African dishes, but to watch my weight I eat Thai for indulgence”. Her favourite book is The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and her favourite TV shows are Grey’s Anatomy, Basketball Wives and Game of Thrones. She lists Leonardo di Caprio as her favourite actor “because I am yet to be disappointed by any movie he makes. I think he is a legend of our time”.

Koketso says the best thing about Africa is it’s potential – “it’s like a young bright kid with endless possibilities”. Her favourite place in South Africa is Coffee Bay and away from home, Dakar, citing it as the only place outside of South Africa she has felt at home.

Her role models include her mom and grandmother – the former because of how well she raised her children and the latter because she is a strong woman. She adds and Miriam Makeba “because she lived her life with no regret, she was headstrong, worldly and made a difference”.

Koketso entered Big Brother because of her “new-found fearlessness”. “I am now not afraid to take risks and live my life for me,” she says. “I wanted to see how far I can take this. I needed a new challenge and I wanted something to help me build a brand I can capitalise on”. She says she’s nervous to have the continent’s eyes on her and cites Keagan, Mwisho and Karen as her favourite former housemates. If she wins the 300 000 USD, she’ll start her foundation for young girls in her township and explore investment opportunities in other African countries.



ZAMBIA

Cleo
Age: 23

Cleo is an artist and musician from Lusaka. Single with a daughter, she is currently looking to further her studies beyond her Grade 12 certificate. She entered Big Brother because it’s something she’s always seen herself doing. “I have been trying to enter Big Brother since I was 21,” she says. “It looks fun, but it’s clear to see that only the strong personalities and characters go far”.

Her role models range from her mother to Mother Theresa, Michelle Obama, Beyonce and Princess Diana. “They are or were all powerful women who are passionate about what they do and never give up, and put God first,” she says. Her proudest achievement is making it into the Big Brother house, because she has always known it would be the biggest step she would make toward reaching her goals and realising her dreams.

Cleo describes herself as “friendly, loud, caring, blatant and loyal”, citing her favourite qualities as her patience, tact, obedience, domestication, humility and respect. She dislikes backstabbers, liars, immaturity and disrespectfulness and promises viewers “a lot of realness, a bit of comedy, a lot of singing and rapping, a lot of ME to the fullest”.

Her favourite foods are pizza and chicken and her favourite TV shows include Generations, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Suburgatory, 90210, America’s Next Top Model, Gossip Girl and Desperate Housewives. She enjoys listening to Nicki Minaj, Pompeii, Beyonce and Bob Marley and her favourite actor is Michael Ealy, because “he’s a good actor and he’s good to look at too!”.

Sulu
Age: 31

Businessman Sulu is single and comes from Lusaka. He describes himself as ‘a guy that loves people” and says his best traits are his character and his enjoyment of the company of others. He values wisdom and intelligence in others, but dislikes negativity, gossip and evil.

He entered Big Brother because “there is a lot to learn about ourselves” and promises viewers lots of fun and life-changing lessons. If he wins, he’ll help young people realise their potential and invest in real estate. Sulu is humbled about the fact that so many people will be watching him on the show, but says that it’s “great” at the same time.

Sulu’s favourite TV shows include Big Brother, American Idol and America’s Got Talent and he enjoys listening to Bryan Adams and Lucky Dube. His favourite movie, Hurricane, stars one of his favourite actors, Denzel Washington – others include Eva Mendez, Gabrielle Union and Martin Lawrence.

He says the best thing about Africa is its potential for development and says his favourite place in Zambia is Livingstone. Outside of his home country, he says America is his favourite place, because it’s “too much fun”. His role models are Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King because they stood for the betterment of humanity.

ZIMBABWE

Hakeem
Age: 22

Hakeem is a model from Harare. He entered Big Brother because he is a huge fan of the show and passionate about the experience. “I like the idea of taking simple and exceptionally talented people like me and thrusting them into stardom,” he says. “Also, I’m a model and aspiring actor seeking bigger opportunities”.

Hakeem lists his favourite foods as crispy rosemary chicken with fries and macaroni & cheese. His favourite books include The Art of War, It’s Time to Unleash Your Greatness and 50 Shades of Grey and he enjoys watching X-Factor, Two and a Half Men and Chris Angel: Mind Freak. His favourite musicians are, The Game, Drake, Chris Brown and Jay-Z and his favourite actors include Dwayne Johnson, Johnny Depp and Denzel Washington.

He says the best thing about Africa is the people, the culture, resources and history, which is “so rich, authentic and intriguing”. His favourite place in the world outside of his home country is Jamaica, because of the food, drink and climate – “and the parties are out of this world”.

Hakeem’s role model is Tyson Beckford because he was the first black male model to become a supermodel. “He was picked from the streets, yet so humble, ambitious and composed,” says Hakeem. Tyrese has also played a major role in his life because ‘he has been it all – actor, singer, performer, writer, millionaire and motivational speaker who started from nothing’. If Hakeem wins Big Brother, he’ll invest in property, pay tithes, go to college, take care of his son and own the biggest model agency in Africa to help open doors for others.

Pokello
Age: 27

Harare-born Pokello has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media and Communications and owns a luxury shoe boutique. She enjoys pasta, spaghetti bolognaise and prawn cocktail and lists her favourite book as Richard Branson’s Losing My Virginity. Her favourite TV shows are Basketball Wives, Real Housewives of Atlanta and Mzansi Headline.

She describes herself as “dynamic, captivating, intelligent, beautiful & hilarious” and says that the best thing about her is that she’s head-strong and a woman of real substance. “When I speak, I speak with depth and confidence,” she says. She admires people who are selfless and filled with humility and modesty, disliking disloyalty and betrayal.

Asked what viewers can expect from her, she says: “I am beautiful, intelligent, controlling and entertaining. I am funny and witty and I say the most humorous things.

Pokello says if she wins the 300 000 USD, she’ll buy a big house for her son and herself, send him to a full-time soccer academy in London and invest in her business.

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